New Café for Priory Country Park

Bedford Borough Council has invited tenders to develop and run a café in the visitors centre at Priory Country Park. The multiple award-winning country park, which was awarded Green Flag status for the fourteenth year running this summer, already provides wonderful facilities for families, dog walkers, water sports, fishing and nature fans. However, in order to go even further and provide refreshments for those who wish to enjoy the park, the Council has invited businesses to tender.

Priory Country Park will be the latest in a string of Council parks which have been made even more attractive via the opening of new cafes in under-used park buildings. Cafes at Russell Park, Bedford Park and Mowsbury Park have all proved to be extremely popular, following on from the equally popular longer-standing café at Harrold-Odell Country Park.

Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said "The cafes which operate in our parks are genuine community hubs, which all make a visit to our cherished local parks even more attractive and enjoyable."

"Following the success of the series of new cafes in parks, in addition to the longer-standing facility at Harrold-Odell Country Park, we believe a new facility in Priory Country Park will have the same effect there. Priory is already a hugely popular park for visitors of all ages, and a new cafe will only enhance its popularity."

Winning the Green Flag Award for over a decade is testament to the continued high standards and hard work that has gone into maintaining and improving Priory Country Park. The park, which spans over 360 acres and is just a riverside walk from the town centre, is popular with visitors from both within and outside the borough.

The results of the tender will be announced shortly.